Expect Jarrett Jack to Finish Most Games, Not Harrison Barnes

It really comes down to veteran guard Jarrett Jack or Harrison Barnes.

That’s the choice coach Mark Jackson is left with when he is deciding who will finish games for him. Point guard Stephen Curry and forward David Lee, the two best players, are locks. As is center Andrew Bogut, the team’s best defender.

And, in Jackson’s mind, so is off guard Klay Thompson, who has emerged as the Warriors’ best perimeter defender and a feared weapon on offense.

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So that leaves Jackson choosing between Jack and Barnes. More times than not, he’s going with Jack.

“It’s the best lineup,” Jackson said of the four starters with Jack. “The point is you can only play five guys. I don’t know who I will end with, but chances are those will be the five guys on the floor.”

Many a Warriors fans clamor for more of Barnes. What he brings to the table — athleticism, slashing, finishing — stands out like a tree in the desert on this Warriors’ lineup. Golden State settles for so many jumpers, it’s often hard not to crave someone who will take it strong to the rim.

But that’s not enough to keep Barnes on the court down the stretch. He doesn’t play aggressive consistently enough for Jackson. Most important, though, Jack brings something the Warriors need as well.

JACKSON: “Jarrett Jack is a proven guy. (He) releases pressure. If you’re looking from the outside, what has bothered us is pressure, at times. Jarrett Jack makes life easier for us. That doesn’t mean pressure is not going to bother us. But now you have two legitimate ball handlers. With Steph Curry on the floor and no Jarrett Jack, you’ve got one legitimate ball handler.”

Jackson has shown all season he is comfortable with the ball in Jack’s hands. He also said he likes the versatility of being able to use Curry and Thompson as threats off the ball. Without Jack, opponents double team Curry — which not only takes him out of the action but also leaves the likes of Thompson or Barnes (suspect ball-handlers) to create offense, which is not their strengths.

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However, the second-year coach said he has no problem playing Barnes down the stretch. He said if Barnes is playing aggressively, attacking the defense and getting baskets inside, he’ll stick with the rookie down the stretch. Or, if the opposing team isn’t much of a threat pressuring on the perimeter, the need for a second ball-handler isn’t as great and Jackson may go with Barnes.

Barnes could also play with Jack, say if the Warriors go small and put the rookie at power forward.

JACKSON: “Harrison is a rookie and he’s been very good for us. And he’s going to be even better. Bright future. … I have no problem at all trusting Harrison.”

Marcus Thompson

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It was a “worst case” loss. Just what you dont want,happened.
And,its some bizarre coaching to take out starters who do the best of course..and bring in 5 turkeys..who then let the other team blow the Warriors out. I thought Smart was nuts to rest Curry and Ellis at the same time. Jackson hits another level of crazed coaching.

Young

Great (sarcasm)…

But what the heck are they doing in practice bc the TEAM looks no better on the floor.

Defensive breakdowns and no good motion / off the ball screens any more…c’mon

supernashwan

Either that lineup or if you need to go small you replace Bogut with Barnes, or as sometimes we’ve seen this year, Green has been on the floor.
But forget this, what about getting Bazemore more time on the floor? Maybe in the second qtr if the Warriors aren’t getting smoked by then. Play him with Jack and they can take turns at the dribble drive/setting up the offense.

I don’t care who finishes the games as much as Jackson pulling Barnes first off the court from the starting five NO Matter What is Going on in the Game. Last night, Bogut looked just horrible from start to finish. He was slow, being outplayed, over matched, useless. However, out comes Barnes according to script. Why not pull Bogut early and get Fetus in the game? Jackson is truly proving, during the stretch run, he is not NBA ready to take a team into the playoffs, if we even get there now. If you read the blogs, you can hear the consensus growing that while Jackson may be a decent person of faith, a good motivator, and the players like him a lot, he has not seemed to learn a darn thing this season and continues making the same mistakes over and over again. Personally, regarding Barnes, I think he has the ability to be a very special player, a game changer type of player, but not the way Jackson is undermining his confidence and the way he uses him. And my goodness gracious, when is Jackson going to send Green to the D League if he takes another 3? Or any shot for that matter? I’m kidding about the D League cause Green’s got game, but can’t shoot worth a lick. Let him defend and bring his energy to the game, but shoot, oh hell no.

Niners in 2012

Draymond Green is the most overrated scrub. Front office pimp his BBIQ, all this guy does is take dumb shots, and make stupid fouls. WHy is he on the court, ever? 32% shooter, c’mon! The 2nd unit needs to be revamped, rotation needs to be shortened up to 8 or 9 guys. It’s do or die time.

Dubber

At the end of the day, this team needs to keep winning. Look it- Utah just won and is only three games back of the Warriors. You know the Lakers will keep winning, Rockets kicked the Warriors butts. Utah just need to keep it close and before you know it, the Ws miss the playoffs again. And maybe they should given the crappy play they have as of late. 16 or so games to go and there is plenty of time for Utah to catch up.

gizzm

So basically our playoff chances boil down to how Jack feels like playing in the 4th qtr in all these crucial games. I don’t like it all. I see Jack only doing two things: calling his own number or dumping it down low to his buddy Carl. We need Curry to have the ball in his hands in the 4th, he is much more creative than Jack and is for sure a better shooter.

RayC

I agree with “niners in 2012” that Green is an incredibly poor shooter and should be under orders to NEVER shoot unless it is a dunk. His college coach said he was the most intelligent player he ever coached..maybe when discussing calculus tests, but not playing basketball. His bull-like rushes into players when playing defense late in the game are tragic. He is probably a great guy and early in a game can intimidate an opponant in not coming into the paint, but in the 4th quarter keep him on the bench.

Stan

Not going to disagree..a lot of blame to go around. Landry too..I hear his name a lot after turnovers,bad passes,and fouls.
Is Jackson of strong enough stuff to get the Warriors going?

Stan

30-17, I must have dreamed that. And what a great dream it was.

Tami

Man what a bunch of haters….
1.)Jackson motivated/got them this far.
2.) w/o Bogut they are toast in the playoffs, he is starting to blend in better, gotta keep playing him.
3.) D Green does sooo much without the ball, defense, rebounding, he is in the right place at the right time; that is basketball IQ. Fantasy stats don’t win games.
The Dubs are not getting past the 2nd round this year no matter what! Enjoy the ride and watch the team develop.

marko

Right now the Dubs aren’t playing Andris or (really) Baze, nor getting much from Jeff. Rush is out. There’s a 10-day guy on the bench for practices.

So you have three rookies in your nine-man rotation. If somebody has a bad night (Landry? Bogut? Klay?) your starters gonna play A-HECKA-LOTTA minutes. And those rookies are going to hit the wall, too.

Barnes has played more than 1,700 minutes this year (after averaging 1,100 in two years at UNC). Festus has 944 so far(406/799/603 at Vandy in 10/11/12). Even Klay is 700 more minutes than last year (and 400+ more than college days).

Not-so-much-older fans likely remember Brian Cardinal. Played four years as glue for a legendary Big 10 coach (Gene Keady), undersized for a big but *really physical*, and smart about the game. Mr. Hustle, too. That’s Draymond. And, with 971 minutes this year (945/1023/1229), he’s still got something in the tank.

I agree, Warriors absolutely don’t get past the Spurs or Thunder, and are unlikely to win more tha one or two from the Clips. Denver/Memphis? Forget it!

With [a] no 2013 draft, [b] one more year of Andris and Jefferson, then this team (plus what’s left of B.Rush and we hope to keep JJack) – that’s what you’ve got for next year.

Speaking of which – wouldn’t it be fantastic if Louisville’s Russ Smith came out and didn’t get drafted? Dude is Monta Ellis + D; word!